Jorge

Lopez

Lopez was a solid contributor in 2024 with a 2.89 ERA and 50/19 K/BB in his work for the Cubs and Mets in 2024. The right-hander stands a good chance to earn saves at this point, but fantasy managers will want to see what else the Nats do before assuming he’s worthy of a draft selection.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman says López will be guaranteed $3 million. As long as they don’t stop here, López is a decent enough addition to the Nationals bullpen. The 31-year-old had a 2.89 ERA and a 50/19 K/BB in 53 innings for the Mets and Cubs last season. He probably rates as the current favorite for saves in D.C., but we imagine they’ll add at least one superior option before camp opens.

López’s season ends with a nice 2.89 ERA in 52 appearances for the Mets and Cubs. He’ll be in greater demand as a free agent this time around than when he settled for $2 million last winter.

López ended up missing a little over the 15 required days while dealing with a groin strain. The 31-year-old should be a mid-to-late inning option for Chicago for the final few weeks.

López gave up six runs in two-thirds of an inning in his second rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, but the Cubs are going to bring him back anyway. It’s unlikely that he’ll be in line for saves.

Lopez has been a strong option for the Cubs as of late — even with a blown save Monday against the Pirates — and the 31-year-old will be missed as a late-inning option for the next two-weeks, if not more. Trey Wingenter is up from Iowa to replace López on the roster.

López came into this one having allowed just two runs in 23 2/3 innings since signing with the Cubs. Still, Porter Hodge, who likely would have pitched the ninth if the lead had been maintained tonight, was already looking like the better bet in the Cubs pen, and this should make it official. López can likely be dropped in mixed leagues.

The Cubs might have gone to Jorge López in a save situation, but since they scored six runs in the ninth to make it a 14-10 game, Hodge remained in, even though he threw five pitches in a brief outing Tuesday. Hodge and López both seem worth rostering in deeper mixed leagues right now.

The unearned run was his own fault, since he didn’t back up home plate on Oneil Cruz’s throw that eluded Yasmani Grandal in the second. That allowed a runner to advance from second to third, and the runner came around to score on a groundout. On the mound, Skenes wasn’t quite as stellar as usual, but he was fine in striking out six in an 82-pitch outing. He’ll likely face the Cubs again next week.

López struck out two of the three batters he faced in earning his second save in eight days and third of the year. Porter Hodge, who appears to be the primary alternative in the closer’s role with Héctor Neris gone, entered in the seventh tonight and wound up with the win. We’d say López is the favorite for saves at this point, but Hodge is probably the better pitcher, and things could yet swing Hodge’s way if López has a bad outing or two these next couple of weeks.